UTMB Galveston PA Program: An's Acceptance Story (5 Interview Offers, First Cycle)

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

An applied to nine programs on her first cycle and was offered five interviews. She accepted four, ultimately attended two, and was accepted at one — the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. Her 1,600 emergency department scribe hours counted as patient care at her program, which mattered given she had only 250 hours as a CNA.

Last Updated: August 3, 2026

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How many programs did you interview with and what were the outcomes?:

I was offered five interviews, accepted four, but in the end only attended two. I was denied from one program and accepted to the other!

In this post:

Where will you be attending?:

Come July, 2019, I will be attending the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas!

In Our Experience

In our experience at The PA Platform, An's note that her program counts emergency department scribing as patient care experience is the detail worth studying. Scribing is usually classified as healthcare experience, but a meaningful minority of programs count it as PCE — and for An, that distinction turned 250 qualifying hours into 1,850. Before you write off a role as not counting, check the specific definitions published by each program on your list. [VERIFY] Definitions vary by program and change between cycles.

Any red flags on your application?

I did not have much volunteer experience and I only worked as a CNA for a very brief period of time.

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

An's reminder that your interview begins the second you step out of the car is not a cliché. Program staff, current students and other applicants all feed impressions back to the committee, and how you treat people before and between the formal sessions is genuinely observed.

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Anything you found surprising about interviews?:

Oddly enough, the nerves go away as you (firmly) shake hands with the person you’re interviewing with. You realize that they aren’t there to intimidate you but to truly get to know you as best they can in the allotted time. I was surprised when the questions asked became conversations that flowed easily rather than cut and dry responses.

Were there any helpful resources (books, websites, apps) you used to get through prerequisite courses, the application or interview process?:

In terms of getting through prerequisite courses, I leaned on my friends and loyal study group to be successful. Having a strong support system is key! If your university has a Pre-PA group, I highly recommend becoming a member. It’s an added support system and a great source of information. Other students are able to impart their knowledge/experiences about the application process and other need-to-know things about PA school and the profession.

Any other advice for other pre-PA students?

There’s no doubt that the entire process is daunting, but stay positive and remember your purpose and why you wanted to pursue this great career in the first place! Step one: Submitting your application. Be confident in your applicant profile and don’t compare yourself to others. I know that’s easier said than done because I guilty of it myself, but you are unique and programs will see that through your personal statement. Start writing your statement early and then revise revise revise! Have friends, family, and others you trust critique it and give you pointers. Next step: Interviews. Continue being confident in yourself. Prepare for your interviews but don’t sound too rehearsed! It is important that you familiarize yourself with the faculty beforehand and have reasons why you find the program attractive and why they should pick you, followed by questions you have for them. Arrive on campus with a smile on your face because your interview begins the second you step out of the car! All in all, embrace the process, stay true to yourself, and remember that this is your journey and it’s on no ones timeline but your own!

Where can we find you? (website, instagram, etc):

annguyen001

Need to Know:

Undergraduate education: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Overall GPA: 3.81
Science GPA: 3.85
GRE: 306 (Verbal – 152, Quantitative – 154) and 4.0 Analytical Writing.
Total HCE hours: 1,600 hours as an Emergency Department Scribe (my program also considers this PCE).
Total PCE hours: 250 hours as a Certified Nursing Aide.
Shadowing hours: 260 hours total – 70 with a Hospitalist, 100 with an ED PA-C, and 90 with a Family Medicine PA-C.
Other volunteer hours: 110 hours – 35 at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and 75 in the Biology and Pre-PA club at SIUE.
LORs: 4 letters – ED M.D, anatomy professor/research mentor, NSCS regional manager, and the director of the Biology program I was a mentor for.
How many times did you apply?: Once.
Age: 23
Gender: Female.
How many programs did you apply to? Nine.

FAQ

Does scribing count as patient care experience for PA school?

It depends on the program. An’s 1,600 emergency department scribe hours were counted as patient care experience by the program that accepted her, though scribing is more commonly classified as healthcare experience. [VERIFY] Check each program’s published definitions — this single distinction can transform your eligibility.

Can you get into PA school with only 250 CNA hours?

An had just 250 hours as a certified nursing aide and named it as a red flag, but her 1,600 scribe hours counted as patient care at her program, bringing her effective total far higher. Her 3.81 GPA and 260 shadowing hours also carried weight.

Do you have to attend every PA school interview you accept?

No. An was offered five interviews, accepted four and ultimately attended two. Circumstances and priorities change during a cycle. Withdraw as early as you can so the program can offer the slot to someone else.

How do you calm nerves at a PA school interview?

An found her nerves disappeared at the handshake, once she realized the interviewers were trying to get to know her rather than intimidate her. She also recommends researching the faculty beforehand so the conversation has somewhere natural to go.

Should you join a pre-PA club at your university?

An strongly recommends it, both as academic support during prerequisites and as a source of practical information from students a year or two ahead of you. She also logged 75 volunteer hours through her Biology and Pre-PA club.

How can I be featured in an Accepted! post?

Email [email protected] or use the contact form at The PA Platform to share your acceptance story.

CLOSING

An's cycle turned on a classification detail: whether 1,600 hours of emergency department scribing counted as patient care. At her program it did. That is worth knowing before you decide your hours are insufficient, and it is exactly the kind of thing you only find by reading each program's own definitions rather than the general advice.

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UTMB Galveston PA Program: An's Acceptance Story (5 Interview Offers, First Cycle)